All neighbourhoods in Birmingham exceed the World Health Organisation’s recommended pollution levels, with the Aston Park area identified as the city’s most polluted. Data from the Geographic Data Service reveals that residents in Aston Park breathe in 17 micrograms per cubic metre of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and over 22 micrograms of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), significantly surpassing safe limits.
The World Health Organisation’s guidelines advise that annual average concentrations should not exceed five micrograms per cubic metre for PM2.5 and 15 micrograms per cubic metre for NO2. Yet, many parts of Birmingham record PM2.5 levels more than three times higher than these recommended amounts.
Experts have cautioned that even these guideline limits may not be entirely safe, as harmful pollutants can damage health at any concentration.
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“It’s unacceptable that communities across the UK are being exposed to unsafe levels of air pollution, which is linked to up to 43,000 deaths across the UK every year,” said Jonathan Blades, head of policy and public affairs at Asthma + Lung UK.
PM2.5 particles are microscopic and can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, posing serious health risks. These pollutants can lead to symptoms such as stinging eyes, coughing, and shortness of breath, and increase the likelihood of lung cancer, respiratory infections, and cardiovascular diseases.
Likewise, NO2 exposure can inflame airways, trigger asthma attacks, reduce lung function, and raise the risk of respiratory infections.
A staggering 99% of neighbourhoods in Britain have PM2.5 levels above the recommended limit, while 51% exceed safe levels of NO2. Urban areas suffer the greatest burden, experiencing significantly higher pollution levels than rural neighbourhoods.
Jonathan Blades added: “This will be especially worrying for the 12 million people living with a lung condition who are particularly vulnerable to the impact of poor air quality. These statistics show that current UK guidelines on air pollution are outdated and failing to protect our communities.”
Asthma + Lung UK is calling on the Labour Party to reaffirm its support for a new Clean Air Act. This legislation would establish legally binding air quality targets aligned with World Health Organisation guidelines and launch a nationwide public awareness campaign about the health risks of air pollution and how to minimise exposure.
A spokesperson from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) stated: “Poor air quality robs people of their health and costs the NHS millions in additional treatments for lung conditions and asthma. That is why the government remains committed to improving air quality to benefit public health, the environment, and the economy.
“Our measures include setting new air quality targets to reduce exposure to harmful particles by nearly a third by 2030. We are also reforming areas such as industrial permits to lower emissions and have consulted on tightening standards for new wood-burning appliances to lessen health impacts.”